Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 2.djvu/233

 PUBLIC LAW 105-220—AUG. 7, 1998 112 STAT. 1117 their ability to achieve gainful employment in integrated settings if appropriate services and supports are provided; "(D) reasons for significant numbers of individuals with disabilities not working, or working at levels not commensurate with their abilities and capabilities, include— "(i) discrimination; "(ii) lack of accessible and available transportation; "(iii) fear of losing health coverage under the medicare and medicaid programs carried out under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. and 1396 et seq.) or fear of losing private health insurance; and "(iv) lack of education, training, and supports to meet job qualification standards necessary to secure, retain, regain, or advance in employment; "(E) enforcement of title V and of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) holds the promise of ending discrimination for individuals with disabilities; "(F) the provision of workforce investment activities and vocational rehabilitation services can enable individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, to pursue meaningful careers by securing gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities; and "(G) linkages between the vocational rehabilitation programs established under this title and other components of the statewide workforce investment systems are critical to ensure effective and meaningful participation by individuals with disabilities in workforce investment activities. "(2) PURPOSE. —The purpose of this title is to assist States in operating statewide comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient, and accountable programs of vocational rehabilitation, each of which is— "(A) an integral part of a statewide workforce investment system; and "(B) designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice, so that such individuals may prepare for and engage in g£dnful employment. "(3) POLICY.— It is the policy of the United States that such a program shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the following principles: " (A) Individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significsmt disabilities, are generally presumed to be capable of engaging in gainful employment and the provision of individualized vocational rehabilitation services can improve their ability to become gainfully employed. "(B) Individuals with disabilities must be provided the opportunities to obtain gainful employment in integrated settings. "(C) Individuals who are applicants for such programs or eligible to psirticipate in such programs must be active

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